Oohmians

Followers of the Oohm, God of Life

“In this life, we walk in fire while gazing at the flowers.”
“It is the duty of the living to make meaningful the sacrifices of the dead.”
“See things as if it was your first, and your last, time.”
“To be alive is to embrace death.”

The influence of the Oohmians is widely felt throughout Kalderesh. Perceived by some as the God of Mankind, worship of Oohm is widespread amongst all social classes. The Prelate, Holiness Talya Pickman, is resident in Camfor, with Grand High Priests in Azerel, Daernbeck, Barforos and Asafor. HRH Lord Arnaut of Stoneford, and the Marquis of Cerosfor, are noted Oohmians.

The Province of Oohm is a large district in eastern Daern, on the border with Barban, which is undeveloped and uninhabited; it is administered from distant Daernbeck by Lord Jordus Barnes.

Of all the faiths in Kalderesh, the Oohmian ceremonies are the most elaborate. Rituals like atonement, communion, and purification are private affairs and are conducted in the inner sanctum of the temple. Meditation can be performed in private or in groups; in the latter case, a dedicated chamber in the temple is used for these usually large events. Similarly, prayers are conducted in private or during special group events. The major calendrical ceremony is All-Sun’s Day, held on January 21. This major event, featuring group praying, feasting, musical performances and theatrical productions, runs from midnight to midnight, and is usually one of the highlights on any city calendar. Several other calendrical ceremonies are held throughout the year to commemorate local persons of note.

Confirmation of birth is a particularly important ceremony, publicly conducted and accompanied by a feast. So, too, is the confirmation of adulthood, which is performed on an individual basis on the aspirant’s 12th birth day.

Funerals are not particularly sombre affairs; close relatives hold a private grieving ceremony, after which a feast is held in honour of the dead. At this time, a special libation ritual is invented, which refers to some memorable aspect of the departed. This libation ritual then becomes part of the family tradition. Furthermore, clothes and other mundane possessions of the departed are distributed amongst the poor of the community by family members. The Oohmian Mysteries are celebrated in two parallel forms: initiates of the inner circles perform a covert Mystery Ritual in the High Temple, while a more public version of the Mystery is performed in temples, chantries and shrines throughout Kalderesh. Both Mysteries follow the same general format but the specific content is altered. Animal sacrifices have no place in the Oohmian tradition.